Learning to receive love without turning it into a transaction is mostly about trust. A lot of people keep score because it feels safer than being seen, needing something, or risking disappointment.
The shift is to let care be care, not a debt ledger. That means noticing when you are paying people back emotionally instead of simply letting support land.
It usually takes practice: saying thank you without minimizing, asking directly for what you need, and tolerating the discomfort of not controlling every exchange. Healthy love is not perfectly even in the moment; it is honest and responsive over time.
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